What do property taxes pay?

County property taxes, or any other taxes, while unpopular, are an essential source of revenue for state and/or county governments. County property taxes help pay for essential community services.

Each taxing authority, whether local or state, continually strives to update its county property appraisal rates based on current market values. Their goal is to maintain tax equalization on residential and commercial property located within their taxing jurisdictions. Most county governments rely on county property taxes for their revenue. Consequently, the property taxes that are collected can vary widely from one county government to another.

Perhaps paying county property taxes is unpopular because we feel we have no choice; how we perceive these taxes are imposed on us. However, we have chosen a citizen from a particular community within the county. As such, we receive many valuable services in return.

In the county in which I reside, ad valorem taxes represent approximately 34% of the total income reported by the county.

While there may be some variation in the services property taxes provide, I receive the following benefits from the taxes I pay:

* Police protection and emergency response;

* Fire protection and emergency response;

* Stormwater runoff;

* 911 emergency service;

* Street maintenance, traffic control, sidewalks and curbs;

* Snow removal;

* Wireless phone;

* Emergency family assistance and housing funds;

* Access to low-cost mental health services;

* Parks and recreational facilities;

* Activity programs for the elderly;

* Central and neighborhood libraries;

* Sewage treatment; and last but not least,

* Office space and administration of these services

How many of these services do you take for granted? How many people are needed to provide these services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Everyone has the right to receive their fair salary, like you and me.